[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2006

  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
4681 Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006.
  As an original cosponsor, I fully support this bill and would like to 
thank my friend from Florida, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and my Ranking 
Member Tom Lantos for introducing this important bipartisan 
legislation.
  This bill sends a clear message to Hamas that the United States will 
never support a terrorist organization cloaked as a democratically 
elected party.
  The support Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the United 
States, received shows many Palestinian people do not want peace with 
Israel and will continue to support terrorist operations on innocent 
civilians.
  Hamas officials continue to endorse recent suicide bombing and 
continued violence against Israel, the only true democracy in the 
Middle East.
  As long as Hamas chooses to continue down the path of terrorism, it 
will meet with financial and diplomatic isolation from the United 
States and our allies.
  I have read the statements of several groups opposed to this 
legislation because this will create a road block towards negotiations. 
What I want to know is how do you negotiate with a government who is 
hell bent on your destruction.
  Would any member of this House negotiate with al Qaeda? I would hope 
not. Hamas must be isolated, not coddled, and that is what this 
legislation will do.
  Hamas would rather cling to the impossible dream of the destruction 
of Israel than work towards a two-state solution that will bring 
prosperity and an end to the bloodshed that has tainted this region for 
so many years.
  This bill rightly ends direct aid to the Hamas-controlled government. 
Hamas refuses to change so they must be treated like the terrorists 
they are.
  But I want to make clear that the goal of this legislation is not to 
cause a humanitarian catastrophe but to isolate this terrorist led 
government, this legislation will allow funding for the basic health 
needs of the Palestinian people.
  I'm sure like me, my colleagues would rather be supporting a 
Palestinian Authority-led government working towards a peaceful two-
state solution but instead we face the realities of a Hamas-led 
government bent on the destruction of Israel.
  Until this Hamas-led government recognizes Israel's right to exist as 
a Jewish State, renounces violence, dismantles its terrorist 
infrastructure, and halts all anti-Israel incitement the United States 
should never provide assistance to the Palestinian-led government of 
Hamas.

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